Israel is a small country located in the Middle East and Western Asia, it is bordered with the countries of Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt, it has had territorial disputes and wars with a number of these neighboring countries since Israel was established, one such is with Syria over the Golan Heights. Israel itself also has controversial issues over territories such as the West Bank, occupied by Israel, and the Gaza Strip, boycotted and blockaded by Israel and still considered by many to be occupied by Israel, both territories, which are separated from each other by Israeli territory, are claimed by the Palestinian peoples and collectively the territories are called the Palestinian Territories, the Gaza Strip has a degree of self-governance, but there is often violent confrontations between the two sides, and Israel has enacted extreme limitations on the territory. Palestine also claims part of Jerusalem, which Israel considers its capital city, and due to these issues, much of the world has set up diplomatic missions within the Israeli city of Tel Aviv instead, although under Donald Trump the US controversially moved their embassy to Jerusalem and recognised the city as Israel’s capital.
Israel also has a coast along the Mediterranean Sea and a small coast on the Gulf of Aqaba, a part of the Red Sea.
Israel is massively influential to the region and has took part in numerous wars even up until this day where it has conducted operations in Syria and Lebanon against Iranian-backed militia targets as Israel and Iran consider each other regional rivals. Israel also has in past years had poor regional relations with numerous other countries in the Middle East and Africa, with many even choosing to not officially recognise the existence of Israel, although under diplomatic efforts led by the Trump administration, a number of countries in the Middle East and Africa officially established political relations with Israel in 2020.
Another reason Israel is considered controversial is due to its location being significantly relevant to various religions, Christians, Jews, and Muslims, as the holy land, specifically Jerusalem.
The land Israel exists on today has evidence of the earliest migration of hominids out of Africa. Archeological evidence attests that Canaanite tribes existed in the area since at least the Middle Bronze Age. During the Iron Age the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah emerged, both related Israelite Kingdoms, and they existed together up until the Neo-Assyrian Empire destroyed the Kingdom of Israel in 720 BCE. Following this the Kingdom of Judah was conquered by the Babylonian, Persian, and Hellenistic Empires. A Jewish rebellion called the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire and Hellenistic influence successfully established the Hasmoneon Dynasty by 110 BCE. By 63 BCE this dynasty became a client state of the Roman Republic who later installed the Herodian Dynasty as a vassal state of the Roman Empire in 37 BCE, then in 6 CE the Roman province of Judea was established.
Jewish revolts that followed led to widespread destruction and the expulsion of the Jewish population, and then the province was renamed to Syria Palaestina by Roman Emperor Hadrian, despite the expulsion a degree of Jewish presence remained in the region over the centuries. In the 7th Century CE, the Levant, which includes modern day Israel as well as Palestine, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and southeast Anatolia was conquered by an Arab Muslim conquest and remained under Muslim control until the First Crusade in 1099, but was later taken by the Sunni Muslim Ayyubid Dynasty in 1187. In the 13th Century the Levant was then taken by the Mamluk Sultanate, which spanned across Egypt and held the area until they were defeated by the Ottoman Empire in 1517.
It would not be until the 19th Century that there would be a Jewish reawakening which led to the creation of the Zionist movement, seeking to reestablish a Jewish state and support for it in the Holy Land and many Jews begun immigration to the Palestine region. After the 1st World War the Ottoman Empire ceded the land to the British Empire who controlled it from 1920. During the Second World War the area was bombed heavily and Jews living in the area sided with the Allies, with agreement of the British providing arms and forming a Jewish Brigade in 1944.
Following the 2nd World War there were growing tensions between the Arab and Jewish sides in the Palestine region, the British wished to appease both sides and pushed for the United Nations to adopt a partition plan for Palestine, recommending creation of independent Arab and Jewish States and for Jerusalem to be internationalised due to its shared religious importance, although this part did not come to fruition due to disagreement on both sides, but the Jewish Agency accepted the Palestine Partition, although it was largely rejected by Arab leaders, nonetheless the Jewish Agency declared independence of the State of Israel in 1948, leading to the Arab-Israeli War.
The War led to Israel’s establishment over the formerly British-held areas of what was called Mandatory Palestine, although the West Bank and Gaza were held by Arab states. Several more wars followed between Israel and neighboring Arab countries and since the Six-Day War in 1967 Israel occupied the territories of the West Bank, Golan Heights, and Gaza Strip. In 2005 Israel disengaged from the Gaza Strip which included dismantling Israeli settlements, evacuating its citizens, and removing troops from the area, although many still consider the Gaza Strip to effectively be occupied by Israel, due to severe restrictions instituted on the area. Further legislative acts have resulted in full application of Israeli law in the Golan Heights and East Jerusalem, and partial application in the West Bank in controversially setup Israeli settlements in the area.
There have been numerous efforts to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict including a two-state solution, but there has been as of yet no final peace agreement, and violent and deadly fighting and confrontations between the Palestinians and Israel is common. Israel has though since signed peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan, the Golan Heights that Israel occupied continues to be disputed by Syria and is internationally recognised as Syrian territory.
Israel’s official language is Hebrew but the country also recognises Arabic. The largest ethnic group is Jewish, followed by a significant group of Arabs. Judaism is the largest religion, followed by Islam. The country’s currency is the Israeli new shekel, which is also used as legal tender in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The country’s population is over 8,751,580.
Government Type
Israel is a democratic parliamentary representative republic where there is a President who is Head of State and a Prime Minister who is Head of Government. There is a unicameral legislature called the Knesset which makes up the legislative Government. Multiple parties are allowed.
It is of note that Israel does not currently have a proper written constitution but instead a Basic Law that group together organization and rights of the Jewish State of Israel which enjoys semi-constitutional status and has safeguards in place, such as requiring super majorities to change certain parts of the Basic Laws.
The Executive Government
The President is the country’s Head of State. In Israel the President is mostly a ceremonial figure, with the Prime Minister holding most of the executive power through the executive Government.
The President must have permission from the Government to leave the country.
Presidential Absence and Vacancy
The Office of the President may become temporarily vacant for various reasons that include leaving the territory; if the President notifies the House Committee that he/she is temporarily unable to carry out duties/functions, which will then be approved by the Committee in a majority vote.
The House Committee can also resolve by a two-thirds majority that the President is unable to carry out functions for a set period of time due to health reasons.
Presidential absence set by the House Committee cannot extend beyond three months but can be extended for an additional three months by another resolution of that Committee, but any further extension after that point will also require approval of the Knesset.
While the Presidency is temporarily absent the Chairman of the Knesset will take over as Acting President until the President’s return. If the office of the President has become vacant due to death, resignation, removal or any other reason, then the Chairman of the Knesset will be interim President until a new President is elected.
The Acting/Interim President has all powers of the President under the Basic Law and other legislation.
Presidential Duties
The President has a number of powers and duties. The President signs legislation into law, except for legislation that relates to the powers of the Office of the President. The President receives reports detailing the meetings of Government.
The President also accredits diplomatic representatives of the State, and receives the credentials of foreign diplomatic representatives sent to Israel. Also empowers consular representatives of the State and confirms appointments of consular representatives sent to Israel by foreign States.
The President signs Conventions with foreign States that have been ratified by the Knesset.
The President appoints and removes Judges and other office-holders of the States subject to the law. Judges are appointed upon election by a Judges’ Election Committee.
This Committee is made up of nine members, the President of the Supreme Court; two other judges of the Supreme Court elected by the body of judges; the Minister of Justice and another Minister designated by the Government; two members of the Knesset elected by the Knesset; and two representatives of the Chamber of Advocates elected by the National Council of the Chamber. The Minister of Justice is the Chairman of this Committee. The Committee may act as long as present members are not less than seven.
The President also has the power to pardon offenders and lighten penalties by reduction or commutation.
The President may also have other powers assigned by the law to be carried out as stipulated.
Most of the President’s powers require counter-signature of the Prime Minister or relevant Minister to have effect, powers connected with formation of Government and dissolution of the Knesset do not require counter-signature.
Presidential Removal
The process of removing the President from Office can be started by resolution of the Knesset if they find the President unworthy of their office owning to conduct unbecoming of their status as President.
Such a resolution must be brought before the House Committee by at least twenty members and then must be passed by that Committee by at least a three-quarters majority. This resolution will then arrive in the Knesset where it requires support of at least a three-quarters majority after conclusion of proceedings, if passed by the majority then the President is removed from Office.
The House Committee cannot propose removal of the President before he/she has been given the opportunity to refute the complaint in accordance with prescribed procedure by the Committee which has been approved by the Knesset. As such the Knesset cannot resolve to remove the President until the President has had opportunity to be heard again in accordance with procedure prescribed by the Committee and approved by the Knesset.
The President can also be removed from office for health reasons. Such a resolution will be a proposal from the House Committee passed by at least a two-thirds majority on the strength of a medical opinion in accordance with rules prescribed by the Committee. If passed the resolution goes to the Knesset which will decide by majority whether to remove the President from Office on health grounds.
Prime Minister and Government
The Prime Minister is the Head of Government and holds the executive powers and implements legislation passed by the Knesset and signed, the Prime Minister is appointed by the President after and based on the outcome of Knesset elections. The Government makes decisions collectively through the Cabinet of Ministers or Council of Ministers, the highest executive decision-making body, they including the Prime Minister are collectively responsible for their decisions. Ministers in their respective duties and actions are responsible to the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister is the person who successfully formed a Government as charged by the President, to form a Government said Government-in-waiting requires a confidence vote from the Knesset to officially become the Government. Failures to form Government or gain confidence will have others who are willing be chosen or put forth to be chosen to attempt to form a Government and gain confidence. If all still fails fresh elections are the result.
The Prime Minister and his/her Government must keep the confidence of the Knesset to remain in power.
Ministers chosen do not need to be members of the Knesset. Ministers are put in charge of heading Ministries, including usage of regulatory powers and responsibilities of staff and actions within. There may also be Ministers without a Portfolio.
Ministers, who are also members of the Knesset, may be appointed Acting Prime Minister if the office of Prime Minister become temporarily absent or becomes vacant for whatever reason, this lasts until the Prime Minister returns or in case of permanent vacancy a new Government is formed. Ministers can also be appointed as Deputy Prime Ministers.
Acting Ministers can also be appointed by the Government if other Ministers are temporarily absent for whatever reason or if the said position has become vacant for whatever reason, Acting Ministers will perform the role fully or in part determined by the Government and for no longer than three months.
Ministers can appoint Deputy Ministers with consent of Prime Minister and approval of the Government, and such a role is assumed after the Government has notified the Knesset of it. Deputy Ministers must be chosen from among members of the Knesset. Deputy Ministers act in their respective ministry and Knesset, on behalf of the Minister who appointed them, and within the allocated parameters.
The Prime Minister, Government, or appointing Minister can remove the Deputy Minister from their position. The Prime Minister intending to remove a Deputy Minister must first inform the Government and relevant Minister first.
After formation of Government further Ministers can be coopted upon the proposal of the Prime Minister. The Government must notify such fact and function of this additional Minister to the Knesset who will decide to approve them.
The Prime Minister can also remove Ministers after having first notified the Knesset. If Ministers or Deputy Ministers are convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude then they will cease holding office as Minister or Deputy Minister.
The Prime Minister can be removed from office if convicted of an offense which the said court states involves moral turpitude. Before removal the Prime Minister must first be given opportunity to respond. If removed from office then the entire Government will be deemed to have resigned. If not removed from office, and the final judgement of the court is that the offense did involve moral turpitude, then the Prime Minister must resign regardless of whether the Knesset voted to remove them or not, again the entire Government will deemed to have also resigned.
If the Prime Minister decides to resign of their own accord, then again it will still be deemed that the entire Government has also resigned. It is also the same if the Prime Minister dies or if the Prime Minister has become permanently incapacitated, or if the Prime Minister ceases to be a member of the Knesset.
The country’s armed forces are subject to the authority of the Government. The Minister in charge of the armed forces on behalf of the Government is the Minister of Defence. The Chief of the General Staff is the supreme command level of the army, they are subject to the authority of the Government and subordinate to the Minister of Defence, they are appointed by the Government on recommendation of the Minister of Defence.
With approval of the Knesset the Government may change the division of roles among Ministers, except for the Prime Minister. With approval of Knesset the Government may transfer authorities and duties legally belonging to one Minister, in all or part, to another Minister. With approval of the Knesset the Government can unite or divide Government ministries or abolish and/or establish new ministries.
No-Confidence in Government and Dispersion of Knesset
The Knesset can adopt an expression of no-confidence in the Prime Minister and Government. Such a resolution must be adopted by a majority of members and that requests the President assigns task of forming Government to a certain willing Knesset member.
Upon a resolution of no-confidence being passed the Government and Prime Minister will deemed to have resigned on that day.
If the person chosen to form a new Government fails to do so or fails to obtain the required confidence from the Knesset upon forming a Government and outlining general policies then there will be fresh Knesset elections.
If the Prime Minister ascertains a majority of the Knesset opposes the Government, and that effective Government is opposed as a result, he may with approval of the President, disperse the Knesset. The Government and Prime Minister will be deemed to have resigned. The process of forming a new Government will take place following the usual procedure (as if an election had concluded). If failure to form Government is the result with no breakthrough, then fresh elections are held.
The above cannot be done by a caretaker Prime Minister, after vote of no-confidence has been expressed, or on resignation or removal of the Prime Minister. Acting Prime Ministers can also not disperse the Knesset.
Emergency Provisions
If the Knesset ascertains that the State is in a State of Emergency, it may, of its own initiative or on Government proposal, declare a State of Emergency exists. State of Emergency cannot exceed one year but can be renewed by the Knesset.
The Government can declare a State of Emergency without approval if the Knesset is unable to convene, it will last for 7-days and will end if the Knesset has not revoked or approved it. The Government can extend the State of Emergency until the Knesset can convene.
The Knesset can revoke a State of Emergency at any time.
A State of Emergency allows the Prime Minister and Government extraordinary powers for the time it exists. This includes power of Government to decree emergency regulations for defence of the State, public security and maintenance of essential services and supplies.
If the Prime Minister deems it impossible to convene the Government, then they can personally decree or empower a Minister to decree emergency regulations if there is an immediate and critical need to do so.
Such emergency regulations may alter any law, temporarily suspend its effect or introduce conditions, and may impose or increase taxes or other compulsory payments, unless there is other provision by law. Emergency regulation expire after three months (or within 60-days after the end of a State of Emergency) unless their force is extended by law. Emergency regulations can be revoked by the Knesset at any time. No emergency regulations can change the Basic Law, temporarily suspend it, or subject it to conditions.
The State has the power to declare or begin a war or adopt military actions for defense of the State via Government decision. Such a decision (of declaring or starting war) must be submitted by the Government to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Security Committee as soon as possible. The Prime Minister must also notify the Knesset plenum as soon as possible. Military actions for defense of State must also notify Knesset Foreign Affairs and Security Committee as soon as possible.
The Legislative Government
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Israel’s legislature is a unicameral one and is known as the Knesset, Basic Law currently fixes its members at 120. The main job of the Knesset is to have legislation introduced, debate such legislation and motions, possibly introduced amendments, and either pass or reject such legislation and motions. The Knesset also provides oversight of the executive Government’s actions. It is also the job of the Knesset to review the annual Budget provided by the Government and to adopt it.
Failure to adopt the Budget within three months subsequent to the beginning of the fiscal year will result in dismissal of the legislature and early elections.
There is a Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Knesset. The job of the Chairman is to maintain orderly debate and following of internal rules and procedure, and also to represent the Knesset as an impartial figure. The Chairman and Vice-Chairman are elected by the members of the Knesset following parliamentary elections. A resolution passed by a majority of members can suspend the Chairman or Vice-Chairman or set restrictions on them, a majority resolution, or a special majority if provided for by the rules/law, can also remove the Chairman or Vice-Chairman from their post.
The members of the Knesset elect from among themselves to set up Permanent Committees, and also setup Committees for specific matters. Functions, powers, procedure of Committees are determined by either Law or Rules. Rules may allow Committees to obligatorily summon office holders and compel them to provide relevant important information on a matter at hand or under investigation/inquiry.
The Knesset can also set up specific Commissions of Inquiry either by empowering a Permanent Committee to do so or by setting one up from scratch. They are setup to investigate matters designated by the Knesset, powers and functions prescribed by the Knesset.
Members of Government who are not members of the Knesset has the same status as a member of Government who is a member of the Knesset, although they cannot vote within the Knesset.
The Knesset can adopt a Law by a majority to dissolve itself for early elections.
It is possible to extend the term of the Knesset under extraordinary circumstances that prevent the holding of the next scheduled elections. Such extension can only be done by a law passed by at least 80-members of the Knesset and only under such special circumstances.
The State Comptroller is elected by the Knesset for a term of seven years. In basic this position audits economy, property, finances, and various Government bodies and institutions. They inspect legality, integrity, management norms etc. The Knesset has the power to remove the State Comptroller by resolution due to conduct unbecoming of status or due to health reasons.
The Electoral System
Presidential elections happen every 7-years and is elected by the members of the Knesset (country’s legislature). The person elected may serve only a single 7-year term and cannot be elected again. Candidates are nominated by members of the Knesset, a candidate requires the support of at least 10-members to stand in the election, members cannot nominate or support more than one candidate.
If there are more than two candidates the election is by absolute majority, if no candidate reaches absolute majority in first round, then the two candidates with the highest vote counts remain, the winner is then determined by simple majority in a 2nd round. If there is only a single candidate then members will vote either for or against this single candidate, if they receive more unfavourable votes than favourable then they will not be elected and another round will be held open to new candidates being nominated – this is unique as under most systems if there is a single candidate, they will automatically become President without further vote.
Parliamentary elections to the Knesset take place every 4-years with absence of early elections being called. Its members are elected from multi-seat constituencies using a proportional representation method, the type being the D’Hondt Method, this means parties meeting certain quotas will be guaranteed seats and means coalitions are often required to form a working majority.
Only parties can present lists of candidates, meaning independent candidates cannot run.
Candidates for the Knesset must be an Israeli national who is at least 21-years-old. Although people can be disqualified from running if a court deprives them of that right by virtue of the Law or has been sentenced to imprisonment for over three months, and they cannot run until 7-years have passed after imprisonment, unless Central Elections Committee Chairman offence convicted does not bear moral turpitude (if a court has already not stated otherwise).
A person also cannot run if they reject the existence of the State of Israel as a Jewish and Democratic State; incitement of racism; and support of armed struggle, by hostile state or terrorist organisation, against State of Israel. These decisions made by the Central Elections Committee must be affirmed by the Supreme Court.
Numerous others also cannot stand including the serving President, the two Chief Rabbis, judges, State Comptroller, Chief of General Staff of the Defense Army of Israel, rabbis and ministers of other religions while holding paid office, senior State employees and Army officers determined by law, policeman and prison wardens determined by law, and employees of corporations established by law.
After Knesset elections the Prime Minister is determined by figure within largest grouping who has relevant confidence within the Knesset, and is then appointed by the President to form a Government, if successful they will become Prime Minister. If not, due to failing to meet deadline or not getting confidence required then a new person will be chosen by the President, but the President may also deem it impossible to form a Government, which may lead to fresh Knesset elections.
Even when the President believes that forming a Government is impossible the groupings in the Knesset can put forth members to be charged with forming a Government.
To vote in elections one must be a citizen of Israel and be at least 18-years-old. Voting is not mandatory.
Sources
This post uses the latest available pdf from constitueproject.org of Israel’s Basic Law 1958 with amendments through to 2013, most changes made are not significant and will likely have little effect on this post, but it needs to be understood that often and ease of change of the Basic Law means there may be certain areas incorrect or out of date and should be extensively cross researched. Although most areas covered within this post are probably not subject to change very often, checking is still important. There is also the possibility I may have misinterpreted parts or missed other things, so again cross-research is recommended for those using this in serious capacity.
The Basic Law can be amended by a majority of the Knesset members by plenum of members under the first, second, and third readings, super-majorities may be required where stated. This does not apply to section 45 and 46. Some areas of the Basic Law it is stated cannot be changed. Note that the Basic Law is often changed, it was last changed on 1st January 2018.
Next up will be the government system of Italy!
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